October 25 Monday – Sam’s second letter to the editor of the Hartford Courant regarding George Vaughan was published under the headline “Information from Professor A.B.” Sam may have written the letter on Oct. 22. No “endorser” for Vaughan had been found, and Sam used Vaughan’s letters against him in this article [MTL 6: 563]. See Sept. 29 entry.
October 23 Saturday – Clemens inscribed a copy of Sketches New & Old to Thomas Nast [MS, inscription, NN-BGC (New York Public Library, Albert A. and Henry W. Berg Collection, New York, N.Y.)].
October 21 Thursday – Phineas T. Barnum, wrote, clipping enclosed of a glowing review of Barnum’s show in the Boston Globe of Oct. 13.
My dear Clemens / We are glad to get your letter with the assurance that you have all got home safely although tired out. Hope & believe you’ll find the gas stove just the thing. It worked famously in London.
Your visit here was all too short—no chance to see our surroundings—. Better luck next time.
October 20 Wednesday – In Hartford Sam replied to Thomas Bailey Aldrich, who wrote Oct. 17 after returning with his wife from a trip abroad. Sam and Thomas teased each other in their letters about Howells, dinner with Osgood; and a flower petal that was really an onion Aldrich had “plucked from Mike St. Sebastian’s grave” (relating to ch.
October 19 Tuesday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Howells who had sent him a review of Sketches. (Strangely, both Howells letter and Sam’s reply are given this date.) Howells wrote that reviewing a collection of stories was like “noticing a library.” Sam thought it was “a superb notice.” He talked of Livy planning a visit to Cambridge to see the Howells.
October 18 Monday – In Hartford Sam wrote to Moncure D. Conway, who was on a four-month lecture tour of the Eastern and Midwestern United States. Sam asked that if Moncure received this letter, would he promise to run up to Hartford and stay with them a few days? [MTL 6: 557].
October 17 Sunday – Thomas Bailey Aldrich wrote to Sam.
October 16 Saturday – Sam and Livy returned home to Hartford [MTL 6: 555-7].
October 13 Wednesday – Bill paid to Arnold, Constable Co., of New York, importers of silks, linens, etc. for $177.50 [MTP].
October 12 Tuesday – Sam and Livy continued on to New York, staying at the St. James Hotel [MTL 6: 555-7]. They spent the next few days shopping [560].